Oakland Township man accused of shooting at son

Incident occurred at family’s home

By
Dave Phillips, The Oakland Press

Friday, February 28, 2014

OAKLAND TOWSNHIP >> A 55-year-old man has been arraigned on one count of assault with intent to murder after his son accused him of firing five gunshots during an argument at the family’s Oakland Township home.

James Bell, 55, is also charged with felonious assault and domestic violence following the Feb. 20 argument, during which authorities said he choked and assaulted his son. He is being held on a $25,000 cash surety, no 10 percent allowed, following arraignment Thursday in 52-3 District Court.

Oakland County Sheriff’s officials said the incident began when the son, 20, told his mother that Bell was having an affair. The son ran from the residence in the 4800 block of Carrington Drive shortly after 4 p.m., and Bell fired five shots at him from a .22-caliber handgun, according to a release from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

The victim’s door was broken down during the altercation, and he was choked and wrestled to the ground by his father, officials said. As the son ran from the house, Bell pulled a gun from his coat pocket and fired the shots, the release states.

The victim hid between houses until he was able to run to a neighbor’s home, where he called his mother. He eventually was driven to his mother’s workplace.

The victim’s mother told Bell to leave the home, and he went to stay with his brother.

The incident was reported on Feb. 24 “due to the intense family situation this incident has caused,” the Sheriff’s Office stated.

Detectives arrested Bell on Feb. 25 after finding him working on a vehicle at his residence in Oakland Township.

During a search, deputies found three spent .22-caliber casings, various long guns and various ammunition, the release states.

If Bell is released on bond, he must wear a GPS tether. His next court date is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. March 6.